Filling machines and heads and stems therefor



Sept 10, 1957 F. ROWEKAMP FILLING MACHINES AND HEADS AND STEMS THEREFORFiled Feb. 23, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. fDWARD ROWE/ AMP lllllSept 10, 1957 RQWEKAMP 2,805,688

FILLING MACHINES AND HEADS AND STEMS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 23, 1956 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Q) h w (q x A %'s 1 Kg x M @Q m R \Q g Q a :5 k: S2 3 IMa y 3%; 7V sw i 5* l n 4; x A v ,3. 88 a INVENTOR. q \o EDWARD ERowEKAMP u,

Sept 10, 1957 E. F. ROWEKAMP 2,805,688

FILLING MACHINES AND HEADS AND STEMS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 23, 1956 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. EDWARD E ROWEKAMP United States Patent MFILLING MACHINES AND HEADS AND STEMS THEREFOR Edward F. Rowekamp,Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Climax Products Corp., Green Township,Hamilton County, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 23,1956, Serial No. 567,157

8 Claims. (Cl. 141-59) This invention relates to filling machines, andmore particularly to improved head and filling stem assemblies therefor.

An object of this invention is to provide a filling machine having ahead and filling stem assembly which is easily and readily cleanable,easily adjustable, and adapted to fill containers to a predeterminedlevel by evacuating the fluid content of the container to effect fillingthereof with the desired quantity of a particular product.

Another object of this invention is to provide a filling stem for such amachine, the stem having a valve for preventing loss of prime andback-siphoning of air into the product lines of the filling machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide a filling machine headin which a valve is provided for reliably controlling passage of fluidsthrough the evacuation lines and providing a tight shut-ofi of suchlines at all times except during that portion of the filling cyclenecessary to effect filling of the containers as desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide a filling stem whichmay be easily and quickly removed from the machine and disassembled foreasy cleaning.

Another object of this invention is to provide a' filling item in whichthe filling tubes forming the filling spout may be removed and replacedwith other tubes of the same or different length with a minimum ofeffort, minimum operating time loss and minimum disassembly of themachine.

The above and other features and objects of this invention will beobvious to those having ordinary skill in the art to which thisinvention pertains, from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation partially broken away to showdetails of construction, the filling mechanism and other elements of afluid-handling system associated therewith being shown in schematicform;

Fig. 2 is a view in section of a filling head and a filling stem shownin co-operative relation to a fragmentary portion of the filling machineillustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in section of the filling machine head taken along lineIII-III in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the several parts of theanti-back-syphonage valve provide in the filling stem.

What presently appears to be a preferred form of filling machineembodying this invention is illustrated in the drawings.

The filling machine illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a base membersuitably supported in fixed position by supporting surface 11. A hollowshaft 13 extends vertically through the central bore provided in base 10in rotatable co-operation with bearings 14 and 15. Bearings 14 and 15co-operate with seats provided in base 10 annularly of the bore throughwhich shaft 13 extends and may be of the anti-friction or ball bearingtype adapted to carry the loads imposed thereon during operation of themachine, as hereinafter explained. Means for rotating shaft 13, such asa gear 16, may be secured in fixed rela- 2,805,688 Patented Sept. 10,1957 tion to shaft 13 by any suitable means such as key 17, or the like.The gear 16 may be rotated by suitable means such as pinion gear 18mounted upon the rotatable shaft of electric motor 19. The upper face ofthe hub of gear 16 may be adapted to co-operate with bearing 14 insubjacent relationship thereto. A turntable 20 is secured to shaft 13and comprises a main element 21 and a top element 24. Main element 21embraces hollow shaft 13 above bearing 15 with which it is adapted toco-operate. Main element 21 is secured in fixed relation to hollow shaft13 by means such as set-screw 22 shown. Gear 16 and element 21 aresecured to hollow shaft 13 and as shown in Fig. l, co-operate withbearings 14 and 15, respectively, to preclude axial displacement ofshaft 13 relative to base 10.

Table top portion 24 of turntable 20 serves as a supporting surface overwhich receptacles may be moved and also as a guide for receptacleelevating stages 25. The stages 25 are regularly spaced in a circleconcentric with turntable 20. Each stage 25, may, as shown, be rightcylindrical in form and have a leg 26 extending axially downwardlythrough the respective guide apertures provided in flange portion 23 ofmain element 21. The guide apertures in table top 24 and flange 23 arearranged in pairs, each pair having a common, vertical axis, and beingadapted to guide stage 25 and leg 26 along a vertical axis when same arereciprocated. To efiect reciprocation of the stage and associated leg asuitable cam 27 is provided. Cam 27, shown in Fig. 1, is a ring-likemember retained in co-axial relation with shaft 13 by abutment 28provided on base 10. The cam 27 may be secured in fixed relation to base10 by any suitable means. Thus the cam ring 27 remains stationary uponstationary base 10, while turn table 20 rotates with shaft 13, causingthe foot of each leg 26 to travel along in engagement with the upperface of cam 27. Such relative movement of leg 26 over cam 27 effectscontrolled raising of the stage 25 to an elevated position, asillustrated at the left of Fig. 1, and permits lowering thereof bygravity to a lowered position, with the top of stage 25 flush with theupper surface of table 24 as illustrated at the right in Fig. 1. Toprotect the cam surface from foreign matter I have provided anupstanding guard wall 29 secured to base 10 and a depending peripheralskirt 30 on turn table 20. Skirt 30 extends in outward overlappingrelation to the upper portion of guard wall 29 to effect substantialencasement of cam 27.

A column 31 having an axial bore 32 is mounted upon hollow shaft 13above and spaced from turn table 20. The upper portion of shaft 13 isreceived in bore 32 with the upper end of shaft 13 spaced below theupper end of bore 32. Column 31 and shaft 13 are secured in fixedrelation to each other by any suitable means such as set screws, keys,pins, or the like (not shown). When so assembled, the column 31 servesto reinforce hollow shaft 13 in its upper extremities. Adjacent itsupper end, column 31 extends radially outwardly to form a rigid annularflange 33. A product supply tube 34 extends through the hollow shaft 13and at its lower end is connected to product supply line 35 by asuitably packed coupling or union 36. The product supply line 35conducts product 37 from product reservoir 38 to coupling 36; Couplingor union 36 is of the type which permits rotation of tube 34 relative tostationary supply line 35 and simultaneously prevents loss of productconducted by members 35 and 34. Adjacent its upper end tube 34 isunitarily joined to a head base bushing 39 having an annular lip 40co-operatively received in an enlarged upper portion of bore 32 as shownmost clearly in Fig. 2. I prefer to provide an aligning base 41 on theupper end of bushing 39 and disposed annularly of the mouth of tube 34.

A head 42 is supported upon head bushing 39 and comprises productdistributor 43, vacuum distributor 44, valve member 45, valve retainer46, bushing 47, and vacuum tube 48. The product distributor 43 comprisesa substantially cylindrical inverted cup having an axial bore or cavity49. Boss 41 co-operates therewith, projecting into cavity 49 to effectproper alignment of distributor 43 relativeto product. tube 34 and basebushing39.i As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, I prefer to provide anannular groove 50 in distributor 43 adapted toreceive and co-operatewith an O-ring 51. The Oring maybe made of :neoprene or other suitableresilient material and of such a size as to partially project fromgroove 50, so that a fluid-tight seal is produced when member 43 isurged toward head base bushing 39. A plurality of regularly spacedradial ports 52 are provided in the wall of product distributor 43 andhave their axes lying in a common diametral plane passing through theaxis of body 43. Each port 52 communicates with the base of a respective nipple 52' secured to distributorbody 43 in fluid-tight relation tobody 43. The ports 52equal in number the filling stems 71. The upper endor top of member 43 has an upwardly projecting central aligning boss 53.Asealing washer or gasket 54 fabricated from a:suitable resilientsealing material such as neoprene or the like, is supported upon the topface of 43 annularly of and held in position by aligning boss 53 whichprojects upwardly through an aperture provided therein. Cylindricalvacuum distributor body 44 has a wall the lower portion of which isthick and surrounds vacuum well 55 and the thinner upper portion ofwhich surrounds a valve chamber contiguous to and communicating with thevacuum well 55. Member v44 rests upon gasket 54 and is retained inproper alignment by boss 53 which projects upwardly into vacuum well 55.As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a plurality of passages 56 .extend verticallythrough the thickwalled section of member 44 communicating with thevalve chamber and gasket 54. Each of the passages 56 has one mouth whichserves as a port disposed in valve seat face 59 of member 44. Passages56 are regularly arranged in a circle and equal in number to the fillingstems 71. Passages 57 communicate between passage 56 and the bore of acorresponding nipple 58. When assembled, as shownin Fig. 2, therespective nipples 58 cooperate with member 44 to provide asubstantially unitary assembly which is fluid-tight. The respectivenipples 58 may be attached byfrictional engagement, by

welding, or in other suitable way, to member 44 to provide a fluid-tightjoint between those parts. Valve may be formed from a suitable material,such as Teflon, tetrafiuoroethylene resin, or other material whichpreferably has a low coefircient of friction, high stability, resistssticking and is inert to the product.

The valve 45 may be cut from a sheet or slab of material havingsubstantially parallel faces, and asshown particularly in Fig. 3, is inplan a portion of a disc of such material. The valve member 45illustrated in Fig. 3, is a half disc and thus closes one-half of theports in valve seat 59 or closes each of the ports during one-half ofeach revolution or cycle of the machine. Valve 45 is held in fixedposition relative to machine supporting surface 11 and thus the valveillustrated in Fig. 3 would provide application of vacuum as hereinafterdescribed dur ing one-half cycle or revolution of the filling machine.By simply substituting another valve member 45 adapted to cover each ofthe ports in valve seat 59 during a greater or smaller portion of amachine cycle, the ratio of nonvacuum phase to vacuum phase of themachine cycle may be determined.

A valve retainer 46 is provided for holding valve 45 in face-to-facesealing relation with its seat 59. As shown, retainer 46 is providedwith an O-ring 60 received in an outer annular groove on the portion ofthe retainer adapted to be received within the thin-walled section ofmember 44. The resilient O-ring 60 is so confined by the structure as toeffect a fluid-tight seal between the thinwalled portion of member 44and the valve retainer 46. A radially projecting lip 61 forms anintegral part of retainer 46 and serves to limit advance of retainer 46toward valve seat 59 and thus also limits the forces applied to thevalve member 45 urging same into seating relation on valve seat 59.Vacuum tube 48 extends through an axial aperture provided in valveretainer 46. As shown, the upper portion of the axial bore in member 46is larger in diameter than the lower portion thereof. A radiallyextending surface is adapted to support and cooperate with a resilientsealing member such as an 0- ring 64. Bushing member 47 has a projection65 adapted to advance into engagement with O-ring 64 urging same towardface 63 for effecting distortion of ring 64 into fluidtight sealingengagement with vacuum tube 48. An annular flange 66 of bushing member47 is adapted to cooperate with the upper face of retainer 46 and limitadvancement of projecting boss 65 toward face 63 to obtain predetermineddistortion of O-ring 64. Clamp yoke 67 is adapted to engage the upperface of flange 66.

A plurality of studs 68, secured in fixed relation to column 31 by meanssuch as threads 69, are, adjacent their upper ends, engaged by suitablemeans such as wing nuts 70 which may be rotated to engage clamp yoke 67and draw same toward column 31 effecting sealing between the severalparts comprising the head, as well as for applying forces to valve 45,urging same into seating contact with seat 59. As shown in Fig. 2, aportion of vacuum tube 48 is cut away to provide a tongue-likeprojecting portion 48b which engages an edge face of valve 45. Theflange or collar 48' is secured to tube 48 by means such as welds 48".Collar 48 serves to index positioning of tube 48 in co-operativerelation to valve 45. The relationship of tongue portion 48b to valve 45is also illustrated in Fig. 3. A split clamp bracket 12 having a clampscrew 12' is secured to a fixed support and co-operates with vacuum tube48, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The bracket 12 serves to supportvacuum tube 48, and clamp screw 12' may be tightened to lock tube 48against rotation. As appears most clearly from Fig. 3, locking of vacuumtube 48 in fixed position relative to the support 12 also serves to lockvalve member 45 in the fixed position determined by the position ofangular orientation corresponding to the particular position in whichtube 48 is locked. Thus, through use of an appropriate valve member 45,the ratio of vacuum on to vacuum off. portion of the cycle may bedetermined, and by orientation of valve 45 by rotation of member 48 andlocking same in position as desired, the phase of the cycle in which thevacuum on and 01f portions of the cycle occur, may be determined.

A plurality of filling stems are provided. Each filling stem 71 issecured to and supported by flange 33 in a position above and with itsfilling tube in axial alignment with the respective stage 25. As shownin Fig. 2, the filling stem 71 may be secured to flange 33 by providinga notch in filling stem body 72 adapted to co-operate with and receive aportion of flange 33. A stud 73 extends through an aperture provided inbody 72 into a socket or blind bore provided in flange 33 parallel tothe axis of column 31. I

prefer that stud 73 be in threaded engagement with body 72 in order thatsuitable rotation of stud 73 will serve to advance same intoco-operative relation with the cavity provided in flange 33 to'eifectsecure fastening of body 72 to flange 33. T o facilitate rotation ofstud 73 a transverse slot or suitable recess (not shown) may be providedin the exposed end thereof for engagement with a screw driver or othersuitable manipulating tool. The filling stem body 72 has a vertical boreextending therethrough outwardly of the periphery of flange 33. Thisbore 74 is coaxially aligned with the subjacently positioned stage 25. Asecond bore or chamber is also provided, and communication between thetwo bores is established through port 75. A vacuum tube or line 76 isattached to a corresponding nipple 58 adjacent one of its ends and tothetubular projecting portion 77 of plug 78. Tube 76 may be fabricatedfrom rubber, metal or any suitable material. The selection of thematerial and design of the tube is accomplished in view of severalconsiderations, among which are inertness to the product being handledand resistance to collapse under atmospheric pressure when vacuum or lowpressure conditions prevail within the bore of the tube.

The plug 78, as shown, may be tapered at 79 and have an annular grooveadapted to receive and co-operate with an O-ring 80 which serves toprovide a resilient frictional fluid-tight seal between plug 78 and thewalls of bore 74. Since the unbalanced fluid pressures imposed upon plug78 would tend to advance same further into bore 74, I prefer to providean annular flange 81, which serves to limit advance of plug 78 into body72. A vacuum or suction tube or spout 82 is fixedly secured to plug 78and extends axially therethrough. Spout 82 is preferably of metal and inmost instances I have found stainless steel a satisfactory materialtherefor. Tube 82 extends axially through bore 74 with its free endlocated at a point intermediate stage 25 and filling stem body 72.

Second plug member 83 has a tapering portion 84 adjacent its one end, anannular groove in which O-ring 85 is received in co-operating relationfor providing a resilient frictional fluid-tight seal between plug 83and the walls of bore 74, and an annular flange 86 which serves to limitadvancement of plug 83 into bore 74. An ear-like portion of flange 86 isindicated by reference character 87. An aperture extends through ear 87adapted to register with the threaded aperture in body 72. As shown inFig. 2, stud member 73 extends through the aperture in car 87 parallelto bore 74, and suitable means such as wing nut 88 in threadedengagement with stud 73, serves to clamp car 87 in flatwise engagementwith the co-operating surface of body 72 retaining plug 83 inco-operative relationship with body 72. A product delivery tube 89extends axially through plug 83 and coaxially surrounds tube 82. Tubes82 and 89, as shown in Fig. 2, may have their free ends lying in acommon diametral plane. A sleeve-like member 90 surrounds .a portion oftube 89 adjacent plug 83 and frictionally engages same. At least aportion of the sleeve 90 has external threads 91 which may beco-operatively engaged by lock nut 92 and cup 93. A resilient pad orwasher 94 surrounds tube 89 adjacent cup 93. Washer 94 may be held inabutting relation to cup 93 by frictional engagement with tube 89 or bysuitable adhesives co-acting upon resilient washer 94 and cup 93. Theinternally threaded cup 93 may be rotated relative to sleeve 90 toadjust the distance between the free end 95' of the filling stem spoutand face 96 of washer 94. Cup 93 serves as a positive mechanicalstopprecluding movement of washer 94 beyond a point a determined distancefrom end plane 95. Lock nut 92 may then be placed in lockingco-operation with cup 93 and sleeve 90 to preclude shifting of cup 93from the setting so determined, thereby providing a fixed firm supportfor sealing washer 94 in order that advancement of a receptacle intoabutment therewith,,as shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 2, effectssealing of the mouth of the receptacle against washer 94 with thecoaxial tubular spout (82, 89) extending into the interior thereof.Other tubes may be substituted for tubes 82 and 89 when receptacles tobe filled are of different size or other adjustment means may beprovided to adapt the machine for filling receptacles requiring adifferent spacing of member 94 from stage 25.

The chamber 95 provided in filling stem body 72 is shown in perspectivein Fig. 4 and in longitudinal cross section in Fig. 2. The chamber 95,as shownin Fig. 4, is cylindrical having a wall 196, an abutment 97, andrecessed end face 98. A flexible valve member 99 is formed from flexiblesheet material such as neoprene, Pliofilm, or similar materials. Thevalve member 99 has a central aperture 100 adapted to register withport" 75 communi-: cating between chamber and bore'74 and has a diametersubstantially equal to the diameter of chamber 95 in order that theperiphery fits snugly against the wall 196 when a portion of its facelies in face-to-face sealing engagement with abutment 97 Orifice plate101 may be fabricated from any suitable material, and, relative tomember 99, is a rigid disc having one or more orifices extendingtherethrough. The orifice plate 101 lies in face-to-face engagement withvalve member 99, and each of the orifices 102 in plate 101 is sopositioned as to be covered by that portion of member 99 which is notsupported directly by abutment 97. To retain members 99 and 101 inposition in chamber 95, I provide a plug 103. Lip 104 extends axiallyfrom plug 103 and surrounds the recessed end plug face 105. Lip 104 isadapted to abut orifice plate 101 adjacent the periphery thereof andopposite abutment 9'7, with the orifices 102 in communication with therecess or cavity in the end of plug 103 surrounded by lip 104. Anannular groove 106 is provided in the plug 103 adapted to re ceive andco-operate with an O-ring 107. The O-ring 107 also co-operates withchamber Wall 196 to effect a fluidtight seal between plug 103 and body72 and also to frictionally retain plug 103 in firm engagement withorifice plate 101. If desired, to facilitate removal of plug 103 fromengagement with body 72, an annular rib 108 may be provided thereon,care being taken that rib 108 is spaced a sufficient distance from lip104 as to preclude contacting of body 72 by rib 108 when plug 103 is incooperative relation with body 72 .and orifice plate 101. An axial bore109 extends through plug 103 and the tubular extension thereof 110. Atube 111 is secured in fluid-tight relation to a nipple 52' and thetubular extension 110 of plug 103.

Bore 109 is in closed communication with a port 52 in productdistributor 43. When plug 103 is in co-operativ'e engagement with body72, as shown in Fig. 2, and pressure conditions are favorable tomovement of product, product may flow from chamber 49 through a port 52,nipple 52, tube '111, bore 109, at least one orifice 102 provided inplate 101, between orifice plate 101 and valve member 99 when the latteris drawn out of sealing contact with the cooperating face of orificeplate 101 as a result of unbalanced fluid pressure imposed on oppositefaces thereof, through aperture and port 75 into bore 74 from whence itmay travel through tube 89 into the receptacle 96. To produce conditionsfor movement of product from chamber 49 to the interior of thereceptacle 96 in the position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 2, thefluid contained in vacuum tube 48 is withdrawn by a suitable pump meanssuch as vacuum pump 134 effecting a lowering of pressure and consequentmovement of fluid in the direction of the pressure gradient establishedfrom the interior of receptacle 96 through tubes 82 and 76, nipple 58,passages 57 and 56, into vacuum well 55 from whence it is withdrawnthrough tube 48. Movement of fluid along this path is regulated by valvemember 45 which is adapted to preclude such fluid flow from therespective passages 56 into vacuum well 55 during predetermined portionsof the machine cycle. When fluid flows out of receptacle 96 the fluidpressure in receptacle 96 is reduced. A pressure gradient ordifferential exists along the path of product advance from the productsupplyreservoir to receptacle 96. Valve 99 is unseated from orificeplate 101, by the product moving in response to the pressure conditionsfrom chamber 49 to receptacle 96. When suflicie'nt fluid product hasmoved into receptacle 96 so as to fill the same to the level at whichend 95 of the coaxial filler tube is disposed, any additional productintroduced is withdrawn through tube 82. Thus the valve 45 is designedor selected so as to permit a product flow period long enough toaccomplish filling of the receptacle 96. The period during which fluidmoves through tube 82 is preferably slightly greater than the periodrequired for movement of the desired quantity of fluid product intoreceptacle 96.

As illustrated schematically in Fig. 1, I prefer to provide a productt'rap 112 which serves to recover product drawn over into the exhaustportion of the machine and as shown, a suitable pump 125 may be used totransfer the product so recovered by the trap 112 Ito the supplyreservoir for recycling of same.

A receptacle to be filled is moved into the position shown at the rightof Fig. 1 upon a stage 25 and as the machine rotates, the leg 26 ofstage 25 travels along the face of cam 27 such that stage 25 risesbringing the mouth of the receptacle 96 into sealing engagement withsealing. member 94, as illustrated at the left in Fig. 1. Valve 45then'opens the mouth or port of the corresponding passage 56 toeifectreduction of fluid pressure within the interior of receptacle 96. Thereduction in pressure results in the flow of fluid productintoreceptacle 96, as described above, until the level of productintroduced rises to the level of plane 95' and is withdrawn into theexhaust system through tube 82. It should be noted that product in foamform which floats upon the liquid product would be withdrawn from thereceptacle as the level of liquid product rises toward end plane 95 ofthe vacuum tube. Valve 45 closes or obstructs the mouth of passage 56 ator shortly after the time at which fluid product commences to flow fromthe filled receptacle 96 upwardly through tube 82. Thereafter, the stage25with receptacle 96supported thereon descends under control ofstationary cam 27 breaking the seal between receptacle 96 and member 94to the position as shown at the right of Fig. l in which the end plane95' of tubes 82 and 89 is no longer within the receptacle. Thereceptacle 96 is then removed by suitable means and an empty receptacleis placed upon the stage and the filling cycle is repeated. When theseal betweenreceptacle 96 and member 94 isbrokentthe'product, in theconducting passage communicating between the reservoir 38 and tube 89,tends to flow toward reservoir 38 or remain in static condition. Valve99 seats preventing backflow of product and thereby precludesintroduction of air into the product passage. In the machine illustratedin the drawings, eight stages. are provided for passing a plurality ofreceptacles through the filling cycle in substantially uninterruptedsequence. It is to be noted that in the construction of the machinedisclosed the product contacting portions of the machine are readilydisassemblable and easily cleanable with a minimum amount of effort.

1 Having thus described the invention, it will be apparent to thosehaving ordinaryskillin the art to which this invention pertains, thatvarious modifications or changes may be made in the disclosed embodimentwithout departing from either the spirit or the scope of the invention.Therefore, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A vacuum control mechanism which comprises a hollow cylindrical body,a diametral annual shoulder face inside said ody, there being at leastone inlet port in said diametral shoulder face, a valve disc ofsubstantially fiat, sector-shape mounted for relative rotation insidethe body in sealing engagement with the diametral shoulder face, a tubeextending axially through one of the ends of the body into the hollowbody, means on the tube engaging the disc, the body being rotatableabout the tube and the disc to alternately expose and close the inletport in the diametral annular shoulder face and means for closing theends of the cylindrical body.

2. Avacuum control mechanism in accordance with claim 1, characterizedby the fact that the means for closing the one of the ends of the bodythrough which the tube extends includes a plug engaging the valve disc,means for forming seals between the plug, the tube, and the body, andmeans for urging the plug against the valve .disc to hold the disc infirm sealing engagement with the ldiametral shoulderf ace.

- 3. Fluid conducting means, for a receptacle filling machine whichcomprises a filling spout, a vacuum line, means for sealing themouth ofa receptacle with the open ends of the, filling spout and the vacuumline inside the .receptacle, a supply line for supplying fluid productfrom a source of supply to the spout, means for withdrawing fluidthrough the vacuum line from the receptacle for drawing fluid productinto the receptacle through the supply line, and a valve between thesupply line and the spout, the valve comprising a hollow body, means forconmeeting the hollow body to the spout, an annular shoulder inside thebody, a flexible valve member engaging the shoulder, said valve memberhaving an opening therethrough, a substantially flat rigid discoverlying the valve member, the edge of the disc engaging the edge ofthe valve member, there being an opening through the disc spaced fromthe opening in the valve member, and a plug closing the hollow of thebody, said plug having an annular rib engaging the disc around theopening in said disc, there being an opening in the plug communicatingwith the opening in the disc, the valve member being engageable with thedisc to prevent backflow of fluid product from the filling spout pastthe valve member and through the opening in said disc.

4. A filling machine comprising a filling stem, a body adapted to bemounted thereon, a first bore through said body, a first plug closingone end of the first bore, a product tube extending through said firstplug for conducting product from said first bore into a receptacle to befilled, a sealing member for effecting a seal between said product tubeand a receptacle, to be filled, a second plug closing the other end ofsaid first bore, an exhaust tube extending through said second plug,said first bore and said product tube, said exhaust tube being adaptedfor co-operation with exhaust means, a second bore in said body, a portcommunicating between said first and second bores, a flexible valvemember supported in said second bore in spaced relation to said port, anorifice plate abutting said valve member, non-registering ports in saidorifice plate and said valve member, a retaining member having a concaveend face the edge of which is adapted to engage the orifice plate, saidretaining member having a bore extending therethrough for communicatingbetween a source of product supply and the space defined by saidretaining member and said orifice plate, whereby the fluid content of areceptacle to be filled may be exhausted through the exhaust tube tocause product to flow past the valve for filling the receptacle, saidvalve serving to preclude back flow of product toward the source ofproduct supply.

5. A vacuum control mechanism which comprises a hollow body having acylindrical bore therein, an annular shoulder therein having at leastone shoulder bore extending through said hollow body parallel to saidcylindrical bore, a lateral bore extending from said shoulder boreoutwardly through the wall of said body and adapted to communicatebetween the shoulder bore and means for evacuating fluid fromreceptacles during filling thereof, a valve member rotatably mounted insaid body and adapted to co-operatively engage said shoulder, a tubeextending into said cylindrical bore, said tube being secured againstrotation with said body and having means' engaging the valve member andretaining same in fixed relation relative to said tube, a first endcover for said body adapted to engage said body and said tube to eflecta fluid tight seal therewith and being adapted to urge said valve memberinto sealing engagement with the opposing diametral face of saidshoulder, a second member adapted to close the other end of said bodyand preclude transfer of fluid between the adjacent endsof thecylindrical bore and shoulder bore, whereby rotation of the valve bodyin unison with a filling machine effects movement of the valve memberfor effecting control of communication between said cylindrical bore andsaid shoulder bore in relation to the phase of the filling machinecycle.

6. A head for a filling machine of the rotating type having a productsupply duct extending axially through said machine, said machine beingadapted to co-operatively support a head annularly of the dischargemouth of the product supply duct, said head comprising a first memberadapted to be supported in fluid-tight relation to and upon the machineannularly of said duct, said first member having a cavity incommunication with and adapted to receive product from said productsupply duct, at least one bore extending through the wall of said firstmember and communicating with means for conducting product to areceptacle, a sealing member supported upon said first member, a hollowsecond member having first and second ends and a bore extendingtherethrough, an integral shoulder of said second member extendingannularly into and reducing the diameter of said cylindrical boreadjacent the second end of said second member, at least one shoulderbone extending through said shoulder parallel to said cylindrical bore,a radial bore extending from said shoulder bore outwardly through thewall of the second member and adapted for communication with means forconducting fluid from a receptacle incident to filling thereof, thesecond end of said second member being adapted to rest in sealingco-operation upon the sealing member supported by said first member forprecluding transfer of fluid between the mouths of the cylindrical andshoulder bores adjacent the second end of said second member, a valvemember supported on the annular shoulder, a tube extending into thecylindrical bore toward the second end of the second member, said tubebeing secured against rotation and having means adapted to secure saidvalve member against rotation relative to said tube, a cover plug forthe first end of said second member, said cover plug having a flangeadapted to abut the first end of said second member for limiting advanceof said plug toward said annular shoulder, said cover plug having aportion extending into said cylindrical bore into co-operation with saidvalve member for holding same in fluid-tight sealing relation to saidshoulder, means for effecting a fluid-tight seal between said plug andsaid second member, means for effecting a fluid-tight seal between saidplug and the tube extending therethrough, said tube being adapted forconnection with means tending to withdraw fluid from said cylindricalbore, whereby fluid may be withdrawn from a receptacle to cause productto fill same.

7. A filling machine comprising a hollow body, a filling tube, a suctiontube adapted to be connected to means for sucking fluid therethrough,said suction tube extending into the filling tube, means for eflecting afluid tight seal between the filling tube and a receptacle to be filledfor limiting movement of fluid to the path defined by the filling tubeand suction tube, into and out of the receptacle, the filling tube beingsecured in fluid-tight communication with the cavity defined by thehollow body, an annular ledge in said hollow body adjacent a mouththereof, a flexible valve member having a port therethrough, themarginal portion of said valve member being supported by said ledge, asubstantially fiat rigid disc overlying the valve member and having atleast one port therethrough spaced from the port in the valve member andfrom the ledge-supported portion of the valve member, a plug for closingthe adjacent mouth of the hollow body, said plug having an annular ribadapted to oppose the ledge and engage the margin of the disc to holdthe marginal portions of the disc and valve member in fluid-tightrelation to the rib and ledge, respectively, and to each other, anopening in the plug communicating with the port in the disc and a sourceof fluid supply, the valve member being adapted to engage the disc toprevent back flow of fluid through the port therein, and to disengagetherefrom to permit fluid to flow therethrough into the hollow body,whereby fluid may be withdrawn from a receptacle through the suctiontube producing an inflow of fluid from the hollow body while the sealingmeans are in engagement with a receptacle and whereby the filling tubecontents are precluded from back flow into the hollow body when saidsealing means 'are disengaged from a receptacle.

8. In a receptacle filling machine the combination which comprises aproduct spout, a vacuum spout having an intake end, a hollow bodysupporting said spouts, means for sealing the mouth of a receptacle tobe filled with the interior of said receptacle in communication withsaid spouts, said product spout being in communication with the interiorof said hollow body, a rigid member having at least one aperture andbeing disposed in said hollow body, a flexible valve member in saidhollow body, said valve member being disposed between and supported bysaid rigid member and said hollow body and between said rigid member andsaid product spout, at least one aperture in said valve member, spacedfrom all apertures in said rigid member, a plug adapted to co-operatewith said body and rigid member for securing said rigid member in apredetermined position in said body in co-operative relation to saidvalve member, a bore extending through said plug and communicating witha source of fluid product supply and the aperture in said rigid member,and means for drawing fluid from said receptacle through said vacuumspout whereby fluid product flows through said product spout and fillsthe receptacle to the level of the intake end of said vacuum spout.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,763,240 Kiefer June 10, 1930

